Rotary explosive-engine.



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S. L. ROBBNS.

ROTARY EXPLUSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 22, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 886,641. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

S. L. ROBBNS. f

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED msc, 22, 1904.

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66M bw Mmw SHERMAN L. ROBBINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

ROTARY ExPLosivE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5., 1908.

Application filed Decemb'er 2i?, 1904. Serial No. 237,869.

To all whom. 'it may concern.'

Be it knownthat l, SHERMAN L. RoBBiNs, a citizen ol' the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Rotary Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary explosive engines.

The object of the invention is to` provide a construction of rotary engine which is simple and efficient in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an explosive` engine of the rotary type wherein the cx losions are effected in rrapid succession, amfhhe effects of the rapid explosions of the charge being successively transmitted to or imposed upon the rotating part of the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an explosive engine in which efficient means are provided for maintaining the engine cool when in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for efficiently exhausting the ex-` ploded gases.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for efficiently controlling the supply of the explosive agent employed, to the ex losion chambers.

ther objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially 'in the construction, combination, location and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the .accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in` the a pended claims.

Re erring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs appearing thei'eon,-Figure l is a view in longitudinal section of an explosive engine embodying the principles of my invention,

the plane of section being indicated by the' line 1, 1, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2 is a view in'transverse section of the same on the line 2, 2, of Fig. l, looking in the direc-tion of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a view'in end elevation. Fig. 4 is a broken detail view in section on the line v4, 4, 'ofFig 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing 'the valve port disk' in transverse section and the commutator for" the spark apparatus, with'their conducting and insulating .segments and'assoc-iated brushes in elevation. Fig. 5 is a broken vdetail view in referencesign Wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

ln the accompan ing drawin reference sign A designates t e shaft to fie rotated, said shaft being journaled in bearings formed centrallyv in a fixed cylindrical casing B.'

Mounted-upon shaft A, and arranged centrally within the inclosing Casin B, and keyed to rotate with shaft A, is t e rotar piston, the hub of which is indicatedl by re erence sign C, comprising radiating arms or spokes D, each radiating spoke D being connected at its peripheral edge to the next adjacent radiating spoke lyinor on opposite sides thereof through a bridge Each connecting bridge E is formed with a short section F thereof of cylindrical contour concentric with theaxis of rotation of main shaft-QA, such cylindrical ortion extending from one of the spokes wit i Which such bridge is connected a short distance towards the direction of rotation of the piston. At its other end each bridge is provided witha Wall ortion G, extending radially with respect to t ie axis .of rotation of shaft A, while the intermediate connecting portion of the bridge E is somewhat tangentially inclined towards the axis of rotation of su ch shaft from the cylindrical portion F thereof. By reason of this construction, pockets or recesses H are formed in the eripheral surface of the rotary piston, the Wa l G of which is radial with res ect to the piston. The piston revolves Wit iin an inner sleeve ortion J of the fixed casing B, the inner wal of such sleeve ,I-forming the chamber in which the rotary piston operates being .provided with cylindrical portions or surfaces K concentric with the cylindrical surfaces or portions F ofthe bridges E, and cooperating, with such portions F of the piston to form a close fit or bearing for the rotary piston within the casing. If desired, and in order to prevent leakage. of the explosive agent employed, the cylindrical ortions F of the piston may be provided with suitable packin o crate with t e stationary casing.

the cylindrical surfaces K of The casing J is provided with tangential passages, forming 0, indicated at L, arranged to copiston successively opcnin into communi- Ihave shown asimplearran ement, wherein cation with each passage of the casing as the piston rotates, and each pocket or recess H being successively cut ofl or closed' to one passage M as it opens to the n ext adjacent passage M in the cycle of operation of the de vice. Communicating with each passage M, is the delivery end of a short section of" pipe N, the receiving end of such section of ipe being arranged in position, as indicate( 1n Figs. 1 and 5, to be rought successively into register with a port opening 0 formedin the flange P of acup-shaped disk It mounted upon and rotating with shaft A, and which. I

Vwill hereinafter refer to as the valve port fdisk. Cooperating with each short section of ipe N, 1s a correspondingr section of pi e S, having its delivery end arranged on t 1e opposite side of the flange P ofthe valve port disk with reference to the cooperating end of pipe section N, and also. controlled by the ports O in such flange. In other words, the flange P of valve ort disk R operates between roximate ends of each pair of ipe sections such flange serve the pur ,ose of opening communication between suc ipe sections. At its receiving end, each of-t e pipe Sections S communicates with an annular supply chamber A' formed in the stationary casing of the apparatus, to which the explosive agent-as as, for-instance-is delivered through a delgive'ry pipe B from any suitable or convenient source, the suppl of such medium being'controlled, when f esired or required, by means of a globe or other convenientform of ,throttle valve C arranged in the su ply pipe 'B'Q e stationary casing forming the chamber in Through one of the side Wa s of t which thepiston rotates, are formed a series lof exhaust vopenings D', each delivering clently ratus InaI through a passage E' (see Fig. 1) .into an annular chamber or assage F', with which communicates an ex aust pipe G'. r-lhe exhaust-openings D' are so relatively arranged as that during the rotation of the piston each of the pockets or recesses H formed in the peripheral surface lol"` such piston is brought into register with an exhaust opening or port D' immediately succeeding the explosion of the explosive medium within such pocket or recess and its associated chamber M in the stationary casing, so Ythat immediately after such explosion the gases generated may be exhausted from both such chamber M and recess H through the exhaust port D', assafre E', chamber F' and exhaust pipe I? desired, the exhaust pipe G' may lead to a vacuum pump,wl1ere y the (gases of the explosion may be etlirawn or sucked from the engine.

sim le, suitable, or convenient appae employed for igniting the explosive c arge Within the lchambers M and their associated and cooperating recesses H.

S, land the port openings in.

, a s ark plug H' is arrange to extend into 'eac i chamber Mbf the casing. The wires from each spark plug lead to a air of brushes J', suitably supported upon isk K', journaled for rocking movement upon shaft A, and to which is connected a handle L', by which such disk may be rotatively dis laced. One member of each pair of brushes 'is ar` ranged to bear upon a conducting ring M l(see Fig. l) of a commutator, designed to be connected toany suitable source of electric current, and t 1e-other member ol each pair of brushes J' is arranged to bear against a ring of commutator segments N com osed of alternating conducting and insu ating segments, as clearly shownin Fig. 4, eac 1 'conducting .segment being suitably connected., in any simple .or ordinary manner, with the -other sideof the source of current supply.

A simple and suitable wiring arrangement for the ignition mechanism is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6, wherein the innercircle is connected to one side of asource of current, while thefext'eriorV circle is connected to the other sidev of the source of current. The inner circle represents electrically the conductor ring, M1, see Fig. 1, said ring being connected electr1cally with the inner circle through the radial lines shown in Fig. 6.

Tracing the circuit of the spark apparatus, at the instant of a spark it-will be seen that the current will flow from one side of the source of current through the spark lug H1, or other form of spark producing mec anism, thence to the brush J1, Which is bearing upon a conductor ortion of the segment ring, thence througlii the sleeve upon which said segment ring'is carried to the conductor ring M1, see Fig. 1, thence tothe brush J1, .bear`- ing upon the conductor rin and thence to the return or other side of t e source of current. While I have shown a Vparticular form of spark plug and wiring connection therefor, I do -not desire to be limited or restricted thereto. The com mutator rings M' ,N' are carried upon a sleeve O mounted upon and ke ed or otherwise fixed to rotate'with shaft A. n practice, and in order to maintain the casing of the engine cool during the operation thereof, I prefer to form the same w1th interior assages P', with which communicates a supp y pipe R', through which Water or other suitable coolinv merhum may be supplied, and from whic dium may be exhausts( through an out-flow pi e connection S' (see Fig. 3). r f desired, and in order to com ensate for the frictional .Wear produced by t e travel of the flange of the rotary valve port disk R past andJ between the proximate ends of pine sections N S, and so as to maintain efficient packing at this point to prevent leakage of the ex lesive agent, I may employ caps A2' sleeve 4over the ends of pipe sections N S,

passages such cooling meand .yieldingly.pressed in any convenient.

manner, as, for instance, by means of springs Bz'interposed between a stop washer C2 on said pipe sectlons and lts associated cap.

`I-(fge'lhese caps being yieldingly pressed against thegflange of the valve port disk, not only servthe purpose of preventing leakage at this point, but also of compensating for any wear due to the friction developed throughv the rotation of such 'flange The lever L', through which the disk K' carrying the brushes of the sparking apparatus may be rotatively displaced, is normally held in retracted position, from which position said lever and disk may be rotatively displaced, when occasion therefor arises,

' against the action of a spring D2 (see Fig. 3)

number of sets o initial position.-

`such gas supply pipe'sections, exhaust ports,

f vbrush sets and chambers, should be the same,

ein ley iive sets of gas supply pi e N s lg',

and I employ a greater number of valve openings or ports O in the valve disk, and a correspondingly greater number oi conductor segments in the commutator ring N', and a correspondmgly greater number of recesses or pockets H in the piston. i Thus, inthe particular form shown, to which, however, my.

invention is not to be limited or restricted, I sections five sets five exhaust ort opening of brushes J and A ve chambers M in the sta? tionary casing, and six conducting commutator segments, six port openings 0 in the flange P of valve R, and six pockets or recesses H inthe piston. The object of this is that with a greater number ofpockets o1' recesses H in the piston thanchambers M in the casing, the piston will always stop in such position that a casing chamber M is in communication with a piston pocket or recess H, and a valve disk port opening O will always be in position to open communication between the pair of gas supply pipe sections N S corresponding to the` artlcular chamber M of the casing and poc et or recess H 'of the piston which are in communication with' each other. Consequently, I avoid deadcenters, and am enabled to start the engine int-o operation at any time after the su ply of gas is turned on, through the contro valve C', by merely producing a s ark in the particular chamberM and poc et or recess H which'is in such* relative position as to receive an explosive charge.

By providing the lever L', by which the brush support K is rocked, the desired explosion may be effected by simply roc-king said lever, and when an explosion occurs the piston sets the rotative movement imparted thereby to the iston mto rotation, thereby rotatin shaft g, and hence beginning the cycle o continuous operation vof the apparatus, thereafter the chambers M and pockets or recesses H being successively brought into communication with each other to receive@ charge of the explosive agent, such explosion being effected, thereby imparting a further kick lof rotative movement to the piston, and when said chamber and pocket 1s brought into communication with an exhaust' ort, sfuch next c arge of t e ex losive agent; andv in the articular form il us-trated, since there are ve chambers M of the casing and six pockets H of the piston, it will be seen that thirty explosions occur at each complete revolution of the piston, each explosion acting upon such -piston to impart rotative movement thereto. It will be observed that each pocketv or recess of the rotary piston presents a radial wall G, against which the pressure' develo ed, by the explosion Iis ex"- erted, and tendlng to kick or rotatively displace the piston, and as the explosions occur in each pocket or recess and its associated chamber successively as such. pocket or recess successively passes the chambers M, it will be observed that a rapid succession of rota'- tive impulses are imparted to the piston,` each tending to rotatively displace the same,

lpocket or recess receives its the number of which impulses being dependent upon the number of pockets or recesses in the piston and associated chambers, sparking apparatus segments, and admission or supply mechanism for the explosiveagent. n practice I propose to employ ran explosive agent of suitable character, such as. gas, and to deliver the same through the su pply pipe B to the' engine under a sufficient ldegree of` pressure to enable the same, when K exploded in the explosion chambers and pockets or recesses of. the piston, to impart a rotative movement to the piston.

Of course it will be understood lthat at the instant an ex losion occurs in any of the explosion chambers andA associated pocketv or recess, the flange P of the valve port disk will have moved into such position as to carry the port opening therethrough, through which the supply vor charge vof gas has been admitted to such explosion chamber and pocket or recess, past or beyond the 'pipe sections N S, and consequently when .theexf plosion occurs the pressure thereof, which works backward through chamber M and `its associated pipe N is delivered upon the' flange of disk R, and is yieldingly resisted at the point of impact upon such flange by the spring support for the cap A2 lying immediately below the same.

It is believed that theconstruction and oper-ation of the enginewill be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection With the accompanying drawmgs, but, brlelly stated, the operation 1s as follows: When 1t 1s desired to start i the engine, the valve C in the supply pipe B is opened, whereupon a supply of the explosive charge is delivered into the annular chamber A, and thence through one of the set-of pipe sections S N, and a valve port O in the Hange l of disk R, into Whichever eha`mber M of the casing happens to be at that moment in communication with a pocket onreeess H of the piston, and by reason of the fact that there are a greater number of pockets or recesses H in the piston thanthere are. chambers in the casing, at least one of such pockets or recesses ofthe piston will be in eonnnunication with a chamber, in whatever osition the piston may have been previously arrested or stopped. Now, by rotatively displacing the brush supporting disk li by manipulating lever L', a s ark will occur in each of the chambers M. he spark occurring in the chambers which are cut off from gas supply is, of course, without effect, while the spark occurring in the particular chamber M which has received a charge of the explosive agent results in an explosion, thereby imparting to the piston a rotative impulse sullcient at least to carry such pis'- ton in its rotative movement into position to autonnitically open another of theperipheral 4pockets or recesses Gr to a'chamberM, Which )y the same rotative movement of shaft A` receives a charge of, the ex )lesive agent through a valve port O througli the annular chamber A. At the same time, the commutator is rotatively displaced a distance sullieient to complete the necessary circuit connections to effect. a spark in the second chamber thus charged with the explosive agent, thereby impartinga second rotative impulse to the piston, and soon, a charge of theA explosive agent being received in each pocket or recess H of the piston, and being exploded therein as it passes each of the chambers .M of the casing, and being opened to exhaust prior to receiving the next charge.

ln this manner, explosions of high frequencyl are effected, each imparting or resulting in rotative impulses being delivered to the piston, and hence also to the shaftto be rotated. The power developed in the engine may be regulated in any suitable or convenient manner, as,'for instance, by regulating, through the main throttle valve C, the amount of gas supplied` to the engine. Then the piston is once set in motion its cycles of operation become mnseeutive and are accomplishedentirely automatically, `the various explosion chambers being successively opened to a supply of the explosive agent, and then closed to the supply as well as to exhaust, the Vexplosive agent then being exploded, and iinally exhausted of the gases ofthe explosion, and again charged with the explosive agent. In

of my invention, and a construction embody?` ing the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a rotary explosive engine, a piston havingr pockets or recesses in the peri hery thereof, an inclosing casing within Whit-.li said piston is mounted to revolve, said casing having a plurality ol' chambers with which the pockets or recesses of the piston successively c mununicate, the number of pockets or recesses in the piston exceeding the number of chambers in the casing, a single valve for controlling` the supply of an explosive agent to all of said chambers successively, means arranged in each chan'iber for exploding the agent with said chamber, and means for exhausting the exploded gases from such cham-l bers.

2. In a rotary explosive engine, a piston l'iavingpockets or recesses in the peri hery thereof, an inclosing casingwithin Whicli said piston is mount-ed to revolve, said casing hav? ing a plurality of chambers with which the pockets or recesses of the piston successively communicate, a single valve for controlling the supply of an lexplosive agent to all of said chambers successively, means arranged in each chamber for exploding the agent within said chamber, and means for exhausting the exploded gases from such chambers.

3. In a rotary explosive. enginef a having pockets or recesses formed in t ie peripheral surface thereof, acasing Withinwbich' said piston is mounted to revolve, and provided with chambers in the interior annular surface thereof'with which said pockets or recesses successively communicate as the pisM4 ton revolves, a single valve for automatically controlling the supplyof an explosive agent to all of said chambers successlvely, meansyfor exploding the charge of explosive agent bers upon the interior annular surface there-V iston of with Whichsaid pockets or recesses successively communicate during the rotative movement ofthe piston, said chambers bein spaced around the piston at lequal interva s, a single valve for controlling the supply `of an explosive agent to all of said chamberssuccessively, means arranged in each chamber for exploding such agent within saicl chamber, and means for opening said chambers an'dpockets or recesses y,successively to exhaust.

5,.` In a rotary explosive engine, a piston rhaving radial spokes, bridges connecting ad'- jacent spokes, said bridges being arranged in tangelitial relation with respect to the path of rotation of the pistons to form peripheralockets or recesses in the piston, said bridges liaving curved portions concentric'with the axis of rotation of the iston, an .inclosing casingv within which saidp piston is journaled to rotate, and providedwith curved portions co erating with the curved portions of the bri ges of the piston to forni a bearing therefor, vs'aid casing having chambers formed in the interior annular surface thereof -with which the pockets in the piston successively communicate, means common to all of said chambers for supplyingan explosive 1agent to said chambers successively, means arranged in each chamber for exploding said agent Within said chambers, and means for successively opening .said pockets and their comwithin which said piston is journaled to rotate, and having chambers formed in the interior annular surface thereof with which said pockets or recesses successively commu- 'nicate, means common to all of said chambers for supplying an explosive agent to said chambers successively, means arranged in each chamber for exploding such agent within such chambers, and means for exhaustingA the exploded gases from such chambers and pockets or recesses.

' 7. Infafrotary explosive engine, a piston having'radiating spokes, bridges connecting adjacent'spokes, said bridges having a por-l tion thereof arranged in concentric relation with respect to said piston, and a portion thereof in radial relation with respect to said is ton, theintermediate portions of said bri ges beingv tangential to the path of rotation of the piston, thereby forming peripheral'pockets in the piston, a casing within which said piston 'is journaled to rotate, said casin having concentric bearin surfaces with w ich the concentric curve surfaces of the bridges coperate,.said casing also provided with cham- Within said chambers,

bers in the interior annular surface thereof,

:the pockets or recesses of thepiston bein adapted to successively communicate Wit i said chambers during -the'rotations of the pis- Y the agent within such chambers and theirregistering pockets or recesses, and means for opening said chambers or recesses successively to exhaust( 8. In a rotary explosive engine, a piston, a shaft with which saidpiston is mounted to rotate, said piston having radial spokes, bridges connecting adjacent spokes, said bridges each having a radial portion at the forward spoke of the piston with reference to the direction of rotation thereof, and an intermediate portion between the spokes connected thereby, which intermediate portion is inclined outwardly from the forward to the rear spoke which it connects, thereby forming peripheral pockets in the piston, a' casing Within which said piston .is mounted to ro-l tate, said casing having chambers formed in the interior annular surface thereof with which the peripheral pockets or yrecesses of said piston successively communicate, means common to all of said chambers for supplying an explosive agent tosaidchambers successively, means for exploding such agent and means for opening said chambers and their communicating pockets or recesses to exhaust. V

9. In a rotary-explosive engine, a piston having a plurality of peripheral pockets orv recesses formed therein, a casing having a plurality of chambers formed in the interior annular surface thereof, said piston j ournaled to rotate within said casing, the number of peripheral pockets or recesses in the piston eing greater than the number of chambers in the casing, means common to all of said chambers for supplying an explosive agent to said chambers successively, meansl arranged in each chamber for exploding said exhausting said chambers, and the pockets or recesses in communication therewith.

l0. In a rotary explosive engine, `a piston having a plurality of peri heral pockets or recesses, a casing withinw lich-said piston is journaled to rotate, said casin having a plurality of chambers formed in t e interior annular surface thereof, the pockets or ,recesses in theV piston being brou ht successively into communication with sai chambers, the number of pockets or recesses exceeding the number of chambers in the casing, means common to all of said chambers for successively opening said chambers to communication with a source of explosive agent only when such chambers communicate with a periph'- eral pocket or recess of the piston, means for exploding the agent within such chambers,

agent within such chambers, and means for and means for opening saidchambers, afnd the piston, means arranged in each chamber' 'for exploding the agent Within said chamber, and means for opening said chambers and their Vcommunicating pockets or recesses i. to exhaust.`

l?.` In a rotary explosive engine, a piston having pockets or recesses'formed therein, a chamber in which said piston is -mounted to rotate, and having chambers with which said pockets or recesses successiv ely communicate, means for controlling the supply of explosive y agent to all of'said chambers successively and' including a valve having ports, said-valve connected to rotate with said piston, means located 'ineach chamber for exiloding Vthe agent within said chambers, an means for -opening said chambers, and communicating pockets or recesses, to exhaust.

13` In a rotary explosive `engine,a

. chambers with Iwhich said pockets or recesses successively communicate during the rotative movement of the piston, means' `for controlling the supply of an explosive agent to said chambers, including a valvedisk Aconnected to rotate with the piston and having port openings therethrough,v and pipesections respectively communicating with a source of explosive ,supply andgwith said chambers,` all communication betweenV said pipe sections being controlled by the portv o enings in said valve disk; means for exp oding the chargek in said chambers, and means for opening said chambers, and communicating pockets or recesses, to exhaust.

14. In a rotary explosive engine,a piston having radial surfacesto receive the impact of an exploded charge, a casing inwhich said piston is mounted to rotate, and provided with chambers, into successive communication With which said radial surfaces are l brought during therotative movement'of said iston, a valve common to all of said l Ycham ers for controlling the supply of an explosive agent-to said chambers successively, and means for opening said chambers toexhaust. i i 15. In arotary explosive engine, a piston having radiating surfaces, acasing within which said Apiston is mounted to rotate, and

i i, `havingV a plurality o piston 'having pockets or recesses, a casing in which said piston is mounted to rotate, and having having chambers into communication with v which said radiating surfaces are successively brought during. the rotative `movement cl said'piston,jmeans for supplying an explosive agenty to said chambers,and including a rotary disk. having port openings therethrough, pipe sections respectively communieating with a source of supply ofthe explosive agent and each of said-chambers, the port openings in said disk operating to con- `75 trol the communication between each pair of pipe se'ctions, means for explodingtheagent Withln saidchambers, and means for opening said chambers to exhaust'. i f le. In. arotary explosive engine, a piston having radial-ly arranged surfaces to receive the impact of an exploded charge, aV casing 1n.. which said piston is, mounted to rotate, said casing provided with chambers in the interior annularsurface thereof, into successive communication vwith which saidl. radial surfaces are brought during Vthe vrotative movement of said piston, said chambers be- 'inginclined to the path of travel of said radial surfaces, a single valve for'controlling the supply of an explosive agent to "all of s aid chambers successively, and meansfor exploding said agent Within said chambers, and means for opening said chambers to exhaust. i y,

17 In a rotary explosive engine, a piston lpockets or recesses, a casing within-WhichV said piston is mounted to rotate, said casing having a lurality of chambers with Which .said poc etsr or ie-y 100 cessessuccessively communicate during the rotative movement of'said piston, means forV controllin thesupply of an explosive agent to said c ambers, comprising a' lurality of pairs of pipe sections, one mem er of each air communicating With a source of supply orv the ex lesive agent, and the other member of eac pair communicating with a casingchamber, a single revolving valve having .p ort openings arranged to open communica! 11() "tion between the members of -each pair .of

pipe sections,meansl located Within each l,chamber -for explodin the agent Within said chamber, and means i or opening said chambers to exhaust." v, p z

18. In avrotary explosive engine, a piston having pockets or recesses, a casing Within Which said piston rotates, and 4provided With chambers, into successive communication with which saidV radiating surfaces are 12@ brought duringV the rotative movement of said piston, pipe sections arranged in `pairs corresponding in number to the number of chambers in the casing, one member of each f pairlof pipe sections communicating with a 12.5 source of supply for an explosive agent, the other member communicating With a cham- 'ber, arotary lvalve having ailange, said flange .operating-.between the proximate ends of the members .of. all the pairs of pipe sec- 13g tions, and having port openings therethrough io control the communication between said members, means local-ed within each chamber for exploding the explosive charge within said chamber, and means for successively opening said chamber to exhaust.

ll). In a rotary explosive engine, a. piston having pockets or recesses, a chamber withi in \\'hic i said piston is mounted to rotate,

and pi'ovided with chambers, into successival communication with which said pockets or recesses ai'e brought duiing the rotative movement olI the piston, pipe sections ar-` ,ranged in pairs corresponding in mimbei' io (he nuiiibei' oll chambers iii the casing, one

iiienibei' ol' each pair of pipe sections comiiiuiiicati-ng with a. source ol supply l'or an explosive agent, the other member conimuiiicatiiig with a chamber in the casing, yielding caps mounted uponI the proximate ends ol the members of each pair of pipe sections, a rotary valve having a llange ai'- ranged to operate between the proximate ends ol' said caps, and provided .vitli poit openings therethrough, means for exploding Ihe explosive charge within said chambers, and means l'or opening said chambers to eX- haust.

'20. In a rotary explosive engine, a piston having peripliei'al'pockets or recesses arranged to receive the impact olan exploded charge, a casing within which said piston is@ mounted lo rotate, said casing having explosion chambers loriiied in the interior annular surlace thcreol', and also having exhaust passages, into successive and alternate eoininunication with which said pockets o r recesses are brought during the rotative movement l of the piston, the communication between lsaid pockets or recesses and the exhaust ports being ellect-ed before communieatioii 1 between said pockets or recesses and said (,'liainbers is cut ofi', a cominoii means for controlling the supply-'of an explosive charge to all ol said chambers successively, and means extending into cach eliaiiibei'-for exploding i said charge within said chamber.

21. In a rotary explosive engine, a easing, a shaft journaled therein, a piston mounted i to rotate with said shaft, and within said casing, said casing having chambers and said pistonv pockets or recesses arranged to be brought successively into comniiiiiieatioii with each other diii'ing the rotative. inovement ol the piston, a valve also mount-ed to rotate with said shaft, and having port openings for controlling the supply oll an explol sive agent to all of said chambers successively, cominiitator rings also mounted to i-rotate with said shalt, a spark plug extendl ing into each ol' said chambers, said coiiinnii tator rings controlling the circuits olI said plugs, a disk loosely sleeved upoiisaid shalt i and carrying brushes for coi'pei'atioii .vith j said eoinmutator rings, a lever for rotatably i displacing said disk, and nieans for exhausti ing the exploded gases l'i'om said chambers and pockets or recesses.

my hand this 15th day ol' December W04, in the presence ol the subscribing witnesses.

i 1 SHERMAN ii. Romains. l 'itnesses:

C. H. Sicmi, S. E. DAnnY.

ln Witness whereof, l; have'lafreiinto sel.- 

